Mechanism for lifting and conveying materiel

ABSTRACT

An overhead travelling crane movable along a path of travel, and also from side to side along the path has fixed to it a depending boom or mast which carries a movable section which can be raised and lowered to pick up materiel from either side of the path by means of a fork-like device near the bottom of the movable section. In the usual arrangement there are two such masts provided with lifting forks spaced apart from each other along the path, such that the forks can lift the two ends of cylindrical or pipe-like objects having cylindrical or tubular end members which can be grasped by the two spaced forks. Objects thus lifted by the forks can be carried along the path to some other location. A guide means equipped with wheels and rollers provides ease of movement of the movable mast sections up and down the fixed mast section without binding even under eccentric loading.

United States Bertola atent MECHANISM FOR LIFTING AND CONVEYING MATERIEL[72] Inventor: Peter H. Bertola, Arcadia, Calif.

[73] Assignee: General Conveyor, Inc., El Monte, Calif.

[22] Filed: Aug. 19, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 851,356

2,982,425 5/1961 Moore..... 214/16 4 3,107,803 10/1963 Glosup et al...,.2l4/73l 3,174,634 3/1965 Peck ...214/l6.4 X 3,235,108 2/1966Drakulich. ..214/731 [451 June 6, 1972 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONSPrimary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant ExaminerRaym0nd B. JohnsonAtt0rneyAngus and Mon [5 7] ABSTRACT An overhead travelling cranemovable along a path of travel, and also from side to side along thepath has fixed to it a depending boom or mast which carries a movablesection which can be raised and lowered to pick up materiel from eitherside of the path by means of a fork-like device near the bottom of themovable section. In the usual arrangement there are two such mastsprovided with lifting forks spaced apart from each other along the path,such that the forks can lift the two ends of cylindrical or pipe-likeobjects having cylindrical or tubular end members which can be graspedby the two spaced forks. Objects thus lifted by the forks can be carriedalong the path to some other location. A guide means equipped withwheels and rollers provides ease of movement of the movable mastsections up and down the fixed mast section without binding even undereccentric loading.

1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures MECHANISM FOR LIFTING AND CONVEYING MATERIELThis invention relates to lifting and conveying mechanisms and moreparticularly to devices for moving objects and material from one placeto another within a local area.

An object is to provide a mechanism of this character having improvedversatility and load-carrying capacity.

Mechanical devices have long been in use in places such as factories andother industrial premises for moving materiel from one place to another.Examples are overhead travelling cranes movable in one or moredirections and having depending receptacles or scoops which lift andtransport objects from place to place within the range of the crane. Thelifting elements of such devices have been limited in the extent oftheir lifting capability and in their directions of movement.

In accordance with the present invention, the versatility of operationof such lifting and conveying mechanisms is greatly enhanced. Theinvention is carried out by use of a boom or mast fixed to and suspendedfrom a movable overhead support. The mast is of a telescoping typehaving a movable section slidable up and down along the section fixed tothe overhead supports. The boom may thus be effectively raised andlowered. The movable section is provided with a materiel support meanssuch as a fork or the like. The overhead support is a crane trolley orthe like capable of carrying the mast in its vertical attitude, from oneplace to another.

According to a preferred feature, the support means is constructed tosupport materiel on either side of the mast so that the travellingoverhead support can be moved to either side to pick up materiel.

A preferred feature resides in the use of two such masts such that theirmovable sections may be raised or lowered in unison, or independently ofeach other.

Another preferred feature resides in the use of two masts held at adefinite distance apart from each other and movable from side to side,either in unison, or independently of each other as desired.

Another feature resides in the construction of roller and guide meanspermitting free movement of the movable mast section relative to thefixed mast section even when under eccentric loading.

Use of the present invention makes it possible to pick up materiel orobjects stored on either or both sides of an aisle and transport it toanother location along the aisle.

The foregoing and other features and advantages will be betterunderstood from the following description and the accompanying drawings,of which:

FIG. 1 is an end view of a materiel handling mechanism according to thisinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of part ofthe mechanism of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section view taken at line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section view taken at line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 shows a detail of an optional modification which may be used inthe mechanism; and

FIG. 6 shows a detail of another optional modification which may be usedin the mechanism.

The drawings show an overhead travelling crane 10 having a trolley 11movable to the left and to the right (with reference to FIG. 1) on ahorizontal bridge girder 12 having a central vertical web 14 and upperand lower horizontal plates 15 and 16, the lower plate 16 of whichprovides a track on which rollers 17 and 18 of the trolley roll.

Girder beam 12 has fixed near the ends of its upper plate 15, supports19, 20, 21 and 22 to which are fixed respective pairs of spindles 23,24, 25 and 26 on which are rotatably mounted respective pairs of rollers27, 28, 29 and of a trolley 9. Rollers 27 and 28 ride on a trackprovided by the lower horizontal plate 31 of a beam 34, having a web 32and an upper plate 33. Rollers 29 and 30 similarly roll on the lowerhorizontal plate 31a of another beam 34a having a web 32a and an upperplate 33a. The beams 34 and 34a are spaced apart and extend parallel toeach other and perpendicular to beam 12 and are near the ends of beam12. The spacing of beams 34 and 34a is approximately the width of a pathor aisle along which beam 12 can move to the left or right, withreference to FIG. 2.

The two beams 34 and 34a are fixed to an upper beam 35 which extendsacross the aisle or path, perpendicular to beams 34 and 34a. Cross beam35 is supported in its position by a pair of rigid opposite towers 36and 36a placed across the aisle from each other and fastened to a solidfloor or foundation 38. By this tower arrangement the beam 35 is firmlyheld in its horizontal overhead position so that it can firmly supportthe beams 34, 34a and 13 in their overhead positions.

For the purpose of supporting the beams 34 and 34a along the path oraisle, there is provided another pair of towers like towers (of whichtower 36' is shown in FIG. 2) 36 and 36a on opposite sides of the aisleand these last-mentioned towers will carry a cross beam 35 and will beplaced at another desired distance from towers 36, 36a, to the rightwith reference to FIG. 2. Depending on the length of the aisle, a numberof other pairs of the towers with their cross-beams 35 are provided tothe left or right, with reference to FIG. 2. Inspection of the structurethus far described shows that the bridge 12 can be carried by rollers27, 28, 29 and 30 to the left and right, with reference to FIG. 2, for adistance only limited by the number and positions of pairs of towers 36,36a. Furthermore, the trolley 11 can be moved to the left and right(with reference to FIG. 1) across the aisle by rollers 17, 17a, 18 andthe counterpart of 18 (not shown) by a distance limited by the length ofbeam 12.

The trolley carries a depending mast 37 which carries a lifting forkarrangement 38. To support this mast the trolley wheels are rotatable onspindles 39 fixed to U-members 40 and 40a to the base of which isfastened a bar 41 to the underside of which are fastened lugs 42 and 42ato which are attached strips or plates 43 and 43a joined by across-brace or plate 44.

A hollow tubular vertical mast section 45 of rectangular cross sectionis securely fastened to member 44 and braced for rigidity by braces 46and 46a. A movable mast section 47 also of hollow tubular rectangularcross-section is slidably attached to fixed mast section 45. Thissliding attachment is formed by provision of a pair of guides in theform of U-channels 48 and 49 facing each other and fastened verticallyalong the face of mast section 45 which faces in the direction in whichbeam 34 extends. The face of mast section 47 which faces section 45 hasfastened to it a rectangular piece 50 located between the outer sides ofthe U-channels, serving as a spacer plate for a spindle 51, the innerend of which carries a load-bearing wheel 52 which engages the bases ofthe U-channels 48 and 49, the spindle being held in position by a nut53. A second load-bean ing wheel arrangement also comprising elements50, 51, 52 and 53 is placed along mast member 47 at some distance fromthe wheel 52 just described, as shown in FIG. 2. The couple provided bythe two spaced wheels 52 serves to restrain any tendency of mast section47 to rotate relative to section 45, when loaded eccentrically.

To prevent any tendency of mast section 47 to bind against section 45,there is provided a pair of spaced extensions 54 and 55 from mastsection 47 which enter into the region between the U-channels 48 and 49.A spindle 56 passing in a direction perpendicular to spindle 51, throughthese extensions carries a pair of rollers 57 and 58 which engage theinner sides of the U-channels. Collar and set screw arrangements 59 and60 keep the rollers in position. If smoother sliding be desired, asecond roller assembly like members 56, 57 and 58 may be provided atsome distance along the mast from the first-mentioned assembly, as shownin FIG. 2.

The lower end of mast section 47 has a fork member 61 attached to it andrigidly supported by torque-resisting member 62. The fork member extendslaterally in both directions from the mast so that a load can be pickedup either near tower 36 or 36a, or both. Recesses 63 and 63a serve toaid in holding the load.

The mast section 47 can be raised by a hoist mechanism. For this purposea beam 64 attached below bar 41 extends parallel to beam 34 to a secondcrane trolley 9a similar to crane trolley 9, the second crane trolleybeing supported by another pair of towers like 36 and 36a located acrossthe aisle from each other and to the right, with reference to FIG, 2.Tower 36' of this other pair of towers is shown in FIG. 2,

A cable hoist 65 attached to beam 64 is provided with a drum device 66mounted on a shaft 67 in the hoist. The drum has wound around it anumber of turns of cable 68 which passes over a pulley 69 which isfreely rotatable and mounted by a suitable mounting 70 on top of beam 64with the left edge of the pulley directly over the upper end of mastsection 47, so that the cable 68 is brought down to pass under a pulley71 freely rotatable on a pin 72 mounted in a slot 73 at the top of mastsection 47. After passing under pulley 71, the cable 68 is brought upand fastened to a fastening member 74 fixed to the head member 44 of thetravelling crane. The shaft 67 on which the hoist drum 66 is mountedconstitutes the shaft of an electric motor, the wiring for which is notshown. lt will be recognized that operation of the motor will turn thedrum to wind up more of the cable 68 and thereby raise the mast section47 vertically upward along the upper mast section 45. Suitable lockingmeans for the drum 66 is provided so that when the motor is not beingoperated, the lock can be applied to prevent the weight of mast section47 from unwinding the cable drum to drop the mast section. The shaft anddrum of the hoist are also provided with a suitable braking means suchthat when it is desired to lower the mast section 47 the lockingmechanism can be unlocked while the braking mechanism is applied, insuch a manner that the weight of mast section 47 will unwind the drumagainst the frictional force of the brake and allow the mast section tocome down slowly to any desired level at which the drum may again belocked in place to prevent further drop of the mast section.

Another drum 66a like drum 66 may also be attached to the hoist shaft67, as shown in FIG. 5, and this second drum carries a cable 75 wound onthe drum in the opposite direction from the cable winding on drum 66.The cable 75 passes over a pulley 69a corresponding to pulley 69 locatedon beam 64 at a position over the lower mast section of the mast whichis suspended at the right end of beam 64 (with reference to FIG. 2).Thus, rotation of the drums in the same direction serves to raise andlower the mast section 47 and the movable mast section of itscounterpart simultaneously and by the same amount per revolution of thedrums.

An alternative hoist arrangement, shown in FIG. 6, would be to make thedrums 66 and 66a of hoist 65 separately operable, each having its owndriving motor, M and M respectively, so that for particular applicationsit would be possible to raise or lower only one of the two masts at atime or even to raise or lower the two masts at different rates.

An electric motor 76 supported by a member 77 depending from member 40of the trolley is suitably belted or geared to the shafts of rollers 17and 17a, and the electric power line 78 from this motor is brought upfrom a suitable operating switch 69 to the motor so that turning on orofi the switch will operate the motor to more the trolley along beam 12as desired. The motor is of the reversable type and the switch device 79is arranged with the cable 78 to run the motor in either direction sothat the trolley can be sent in either direction along the beam. Thetrolley 11a which is located at the mast structure at the right of FIG.2, is operated by a similar motor from the same switch 79 to move thetwo trolleys simultaneously in the same direction along their trackbeams.

The parallel beams 34 and 34a can be made of any desired length, whichwill ordinarily be determined by the distance it is desired to have thetravelling masts move along their path or aisle. Ordinarily, there willbe a number, and often a considerable number, of the opposite pairs oftowers like 36 and 36a which support the beams 34 and 34a. Thus, thesepairs of spaced uprights like 36, 36a in effect form the aisle alongwhich the bridges 12 carrying the depending masts will travel.

The travelling movement of these masts by means of the rollers 27, 28,29 and 30 can be done in any desired manner. For example, there can beprovided a pair of cables 100, 100a extending parallel to beams 34 and34a and attached at 100' and 100'a, respectively, near the respectiveends of beam 12. Where it is desired that each mast shall move along theaisle independently of the other, these two cables can be attached onlyto the beam 12 which supports the trolley for the one mast. The cablescan extend the full length of the aisle formed by the uprights 36, 36aand be pulled by a drum operated by an electric motor at each end of theaisle. Thus, when one of these drum motors is operated it will pull themast toward it and when the motor at the other end of the aisle isoperated it will pull the mast toward it. If it is desired that the twomasts be maintained at the same distance from each other along theaisle, the cables can be attached to the beam 12 for each mast.

From the foregoing description, it will be recognized that the dependingmasts can be moved from one side of the aisle formed by uprights 36, 36ato the other side, as desired, and also that the two masts may be movedin unison or independently, according to the attachments of theirdriving mechanisms. Furthermore, the telescoping mast section 47 may beraised or lowered vertically to any desired degree within thelimitations of its dimensions. It will also be recog nized that themasts may be moved down the aisle either in unison or independently,depending on the attachments of their driving mechanisms. Thesepermissible movements of the masts permit the handling of materiallocated at either side of the aisle and at various heights off thefloor; and the material thus picked up by one or both forks from one orboth sides of the aisle can be brought back to the center of the aisleand carried any desired distance down the aisle and placed again in adesired position at the side of the aisle and at some desired heightabove the floor.

Such movement is adapted for the handling of such materiel as mandrelssome of which can be very large and heavy, and are provided with endshafts for handling and attachment.

The towers 36 and 36a are especially designed for storing materiel of atype having a shaft or pipe-like structures which in this case are shownas large cylindrical mandrels having end portions fitted with extendingshafts. Such mandrels are used for manufacturing such products asresin-impregnated fiber pipe. For the purpose of storing such mandrels,each of the towers 36 and 36a is provided with a number of racks 80arranged one under the other on the tower. For supporting these racks,the lower portion of each tower is constructed with an outer verticalplate 81 and an inner vertical plate 82, each plate having side flanges83. The racks 80 are formed of horizontal strips 84 attached on theoutside of the flanges 83 of each of the outside plates 81 and insideplates 82. The innermost portion of each strip 44 is dished to form asemicylinder 85 of the proper dimensions to receive an end shaft of amandrel to be stored. Each receptacle 85 is braced by a strut 86attached to its underside and extending obliquely downwardly to theoutermost plate 81 where it is attached.

One of the mandrels 87 is shown with one of its protruding mandrelshafts 88 rested in one of the receptacles 85. The cylindrical member 89is rigidly held to its shaft 88 at each end of the mandrel by three websor spokes 90; and to prevent a mandrel shaft 88 from sliding out of itsreceptacle 85 which would cause the mandrel to drop, there is provided apin 91 fitted through each mandrel shaft 88 near its outer end.

Each mandrel to be stored is ordinarily symmetrically constructed, thatis, with the shaft and pin protruding from each end thereof, andfurthermore each mandrel will ordinarily be of the same length. In fact,the spacing of the opposite pairs of towers along the aisle will beestablished to conform with the length of the mandrels. Thus, themandrel 87 shown in FIG. 2 will extend from a receptacle of a tower 36to a similar receptacle located at the same height above the floor ofthe next tower to the right (with reference to FIG. 2).

FIG. 1 shows five racks, one above the other along each side of plate82. This allows five such mandrels to be stored in the horizontalposition shown, one above the other between one tower 36 and the next.Similarly, the five racks, one above the other, located at the left sideof the tower (with reference to FIG. 2) will extend to the left withreference to FIG. 2, and be supported so that the mandrels supported atone end in these receptacles will have their other ends supported in thereceptacles of the next tower down the aisle on the same side of theaisle.

The machine or equipment to which the material is to be conveyed, whichwill be pipe winding machines in the case of the mandrels illustrated,will be located adjacent the aisle but along the aisle from the storagearea. Thus, for lifting one of the mandrels and transporting it to itswinding machine, the usual operation will be to fix the distance alongthe aisle of the two masts 37 by a suitable bar or beam or cablearrangement so that the receptacle 63 of the fork member 61 of each mastwill coincide with the region 92 of each mandrel shaft 88. The movablemast section 47 of each mast will then be lowered so that it is somewhatbelow the level of the shaft 88, and the two trolleys will be moved tothe left (with reference to FIG. 1) until a 'fork receptacle 63 isdirectly beneath each mandrel shaft at the ends of the mandrel. Then themovable shaft 47 will be raised to lift the mandrel off its racks, inwhich case the mandrel shafts at both ends will be resting in the twofork receptacles 63 which are on the same side of the mast. The twomasts will then be carried down the aisle along tracks 34 and 34a on therollers 27, 28, 29 and 30, until the mandrel arrives at its machine.Thereupon the mandrel will be raised sufficiently by its mast hoists andthe trolleys will carry the mast over to the machine at the side of theaisle and set it in place.

Although the receptacle arrangements of the mast forks and the storagetowers have been shown especially designed to accept end shafts ofmandrels, it will be recognized that other materiel than mandrels can belifted and transported; for example, pipe or other materiel havinggenerally cylindrical or similar parts. For handling materiel which doesnot have cylindrical parts like shafts or piping, other shapes can begiven to the fork and storage receptacles.

Use of the invention is especially advantageous for the handling ofheavy and unweildy objects such as elongated man drels which cannoteasily be handled manually. Furthermore, use of the invention makespossible the handling of either double or single loads, that is, a loadon either or both sides of the mast.

The structural members will ordinarily be made of steel, capable ofhandling heavy loads.

It will be recognized that variations in the mechanism can be introducedwithout departing from the scope of the invention. Variations mayreadily suggest themselves in the construction of the overhead supportarrangement from which the masts are suspended and also in the paths oftravel of these overhead mast supports or trolleys. Variations maylikewise be made in the powering units for powering the hoists as wellas for moving the mast supports. For example, the hoist units maycomprise an air hoist drum unit, or alternatively air or hydrauliccylinder, or hydraulic rams could be used to operate the hoist cables.

It will be recognized that use of this invention makes possible theprovision of masts which are independent of each other rather than beinga pair of interconnected or braced units as is usually the case. It willfurther be recognized that use of the invention makes possible a uniqueconstruction of a telescopic lifting device or mast provided withsheaves, guides and rollers, constructed as an integral unit which canbe independently fastened to an overhead load bar travelling crane.

What is claimed is:

1. A mechanism for lifting and conveying objects comprising meansdefining a first overhead path of travel, a movable support frame havingmeans thereon defining a second overhead path of travel disposedtransversely relative to said first path of travel, means for movingsaid support frame along said first overhead path of travel, meansmounted on said support frame for moving a mast along said secondoverhead path of travel, a mast having a pair of spaced first sectionsfixed to said last named means and depending downwardly therefrom and asecond pair of spaced sections mounted on and movable up and downrelative to said first sections, load handling means attached to andextending laterally from opposite sides of each of said second sections,said load handling means having recessed portions adjacent each endthereof operative to handle cylindrical objects, means for raising andlowering said second sections independently of each other and relativeto said first sections, each of said first section of said mastcomprising a tubular member with two horizontally spaced U- shapedchannel members attached to one side of the tubular member, the openingsof said U-shaped channel members being disposed in a facing relationshipto each other and thereby defining a vertical guide channel for saidsecond mast sections, each of said second mast sections comprising atubular member with vertically spaced guide wheel means mounted thereon,said wheel means being rotatable on a horizontal axis so that thecircumference of said wheel means enters between the sides of theU-shaped channel members and engages the base of each of said U-shapedchannel members of said first sections, vertically spaced pairs ofrollers mounted on each of said second sections and rotatable about ahorizontal axis perpendicularly to the axis of said wheel means so thatone of the rollers of each of said pairs of rollers engages a respectiveadjacent side of the two sides the U-shaped channel members of saidfirst mast section whereby the second sections and load handling meansthereon can be moved vertically to facilitate a load handling operation.

STATES PATENT oTTTcTs CET TEFEZCATE CCRIECTICN Pat-666m. 3,667,618 fDated June 6, 1972 Inv ntofls) Peter H. Bertola It is certified thaterror appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the Patent Column 1, line 5 Change "material" to --materiel--.

Column 2, line 10 Af ter"towers" insert --(o f which tower 36' is shownin FIG.Z)--. I

Column 2, line 11 After "towers" cancel "(of which tower 36' is shown inFIG. .2)".

Column 2, line 13 Cancel "a" and substitute --an0ther-- before'"crossbeam 35"; same line, cancel "another" and substitute --a-- before"desired".

Column 3, line 54 Change "more" to --move-.

Column 4, line 25 Change "material" to "materiel".

Column 4, lines 26 and 27 Change "material" to --materiel--.

Column 5, line 5 Change "material" to --materiel--.

Signed and sealed this 2nd day of January 1973.v

EDWARD M .,PLETCHER,JR ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents USCOMM-DC 60376-1 69 v u.S, GOVERNMENT PINTIN OFICE 119690-356-334

1. A mechanism for lifting and conveying objects comprising meansdefining a first overhead path of travel, a movable support frame havingmeans thereon defining a second overhead path of travel disposedtransversely relative to said first path of travel, means for movingsaid support frame along said first overhead path of travel, meansmounted on said support frame for moving a mast along said secondoverhead path of travel, a mast having a pair of spaced first sectionsfixed to said last named means and depending downwardly therefrom and asecond pair of spaced sections mounted on and movable up and downrelative to said first sections, load handling means attached to andextending laterally from opposite sides of each of said second sections,said load handling means having recessed portions adjacent each endthereof operative to handle cylindrical objects, means for raising andlowering said second sections independently of each other and relativeto said first sections, each of said first section of said mastcomprising a tubular member with two horizontally spaced U-shapedchannel members attached to one side of the tubular member, the openingsof said U-shaped channel members being disposed in a facing relationshipto each other and thereby defining a vertical guide channel for saidsecond mast sections, eacH of said second mast sections comprising atubular member with vertically spaced guide wheel means mounted thereon,said wheel means being rotatable on a horizontal axis so that thecircumference of said wheel means enters between the sides of theU-shaped channel members and engages the base of each of said U-shapedchannel members of said first sections, vertically spaced pairs ofrollers mounted on each of said second sections and rotatable about ahorizontal axis perpendicularly to the axis of said wheel means so thatone of the rollers of each of said pairs of rollers engages a respectiveadjacent side of the two sides the U-shaped channel members of saidfirst mast section whereby the second sections and load handling meansthereon can be moved vertically to facilitate a load handling operation.